You read the title right. Back in 2004, Sports Business News released a set of statistics that revealed an estimated 40% of the NFL’s fan base consisted of women. 
As an avid fan of football in general, both collegiate and professional, I am proud to consider myself a part of that 40%, and it appears that the NFL and its partners/sponsors are honing in on the group that makes up that statistic. I remember the first time I caught the Reebok commercial for NFL merchandise for women. A rewind and review was necessary and possible with TIVO in order to make sure I had really seen that right, and I must say I was truly impressed with the attempt to target the female audience.
With that said, I came across an article by another female football fan, Ivette Ricco (President of femmefan.com), who is a little less impressed with the way that the NFL supposedly attempts to appeal to its female audience. She proposes a few ideas that would make the game experience better “if chicks ran the NFL.” While a good number are silly and ridiculous, there a few where I think she may have a point. The question is do they require women running the NFL to make it happen? Below are a few of her ideas:
As an avid fan of football in general, both collegiate and professional, I am proud to consider myself a part of that 40%, and it appears that the NFL and its partners/sponsors are honing in on the group that makes up that statistic. I remember the first time I caught the Reebok commercial for NFL merchandise for women. A rewind and review was necessary and possible with TIVO in order to make sure I had really seen that right, and I must say I was truly impressed with the attempt to target the female audience.With that said, I came across an article by another female football fan, Ivette Ricco (President of femmefan.com), who is a little less impressed with the way that the NFL supposedly attempts to appeal to its female audience. She proposes a few ideas that would make the game experience better “if chicks ran the NFL.” While a good number are silly and ridiculous, there a few where I think she may have a point. The question is do they require women running the NFL to make it happen? Below are a few of her ideas:
- Wine, because beer makes us "go" way too often, and puts on the pounds. The wine has to be the good stuff not Wyoming Valley vintage 2000 with twist off caps.
- Baby-sitting services at every stadium in the USA where you can drop off the rug-rats while you sit back and enjoy the game.
- An e-lounge where you can stay wired into every electronic gadget in your life during the game.
- Team Apparel that fits us and isn't made for men who are 6'2" and weigh in at 330 pounds.
- Ladies Day at least once a year in every stadium for every sport.
- We love the yellow first down line; this is the best thing since the Wonder Bra. Every network should be required to use this feature during NFL broadcasts.
- With all the technology available let's put a trailer after the ball or sensors on the goals posts that light up when the ball goes though, or how about positioning the camera above the goal post?
Perhaps Ms. Ricco is on to something. Perhaps a select handful from that 40% of football fans who are women could run the NFL and make it a better game experience. Any female football fan up for the challenge?
